Education Responsibility

This week's Christian Views Symposium is a doosy. There's a letter written by Jeff of Random Acts of Kindness that says in part:

It is fundamentally unfair to rely on other peopleÂ’s money to pay for a childÂ’s education. The primary source of funding should come from the parents who have children using the service. If we canÂ’t ask parents to help pay for their childrenÂ’s education, how in the world can we expect other people without children to pay even more for it?

That's quite a "radical" position to take in today's socialist mindset. I'm sure that many of my good readers are already discounting this entire post, or hoping that I will point out how radical or looney this person is. After all, isn't school "for the children?"

Lennie asks some questions about that letter this week:

1. What is responsibility of the Parent in paying for their childÂ’s education?
2. What is responsibility of the Society in paying for all childrens education?
3. Do you believe your perspective is different if you are a Christian?

Ok, so let's have at them:

1. What is responsibility of the Parent in paying for their childÂ’s education?

100%. Next question.

Seriously, why in the world should anyone assume, even for a moment, that your own child isn't your responsibility? I think some of the people who think this way do not consider the ramifications.

If you and your child do not have responsibility for education, even just a little bit of it, then someone else does. If someone else has that responsibility, they must use their time and efforts to teach. If you assume that someone else is responsible to teach your child, what gives you the right to lay claim to that person's labor? How is that any different from slavery?

If you do not agree that you are completely and totally personally responsible for your child's education, you should not have a child -- keep your legs closed or keep it in your pants.

2. What is responsibility of the Society in paying for all childrens education?

I know various state constitutions, including North Carolina, do mention that people do have a "right" to education. Article 9, Section 2 says,

"The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students."

Section 9 is even worse:

The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of The University of North Carolina and other public institutions of higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense.

Therefore, in North Carolina, is it 100% society's duty to work as slaves to educate other people. That's wrong, but it is in the Constitution. I don't see the Constitution being changed any time soon. Personally, I think this directly conflicts with Article I, Section 1:

We hold it to be self-evident that all persons are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, the enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor, and the pursuit of happiness.

How can I be entitled to the fruit of my own labor if I am forced to use those fruits to pay for someone else's education? Unfortunately, judges today would never rule that that part of the Constitution means what it says.

So should society, through forced slave-labor and taxation be responsible for educating children? No, not at all, but we are. Should individuals in society help one another? You bet!

3. Do you believe your perspective is different if you are a Christian?

In my case, I don't see how. The big issues here are the definition of society and individuals. I can be generous and giving. That's my option. But when heavy-handed government moves in and forces me to be generous, that's no longer giving.

At no time should government expenditures be confused with charity and good works -- the government, by definition, takes money from it's citizens by force. No matter what the money is used for, it was not given voluntarily. Paying your taxes does not make you a charitable giver.

Thanks for asking, Lennie!

Posted by: Ogre at 02:54 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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